Positive allometry for exaggerated structures in the ceratopsian dinosaur Protoceratops andrewsi supports socio-sexual signaling
David W. E. Hone, Dylan Wood, and Robert J. Knell
Article number: 19.1.5A
Copyright Palaeontological Association, January 2016
PDF version [Open Access]
Submission: 7 August 2015. Acceptance: 10 November 2015
ABSTRACT
The allometry in the frill and jugal bosses of the small ornithischian dinosaur Protoceratops andrewsi are assessed. An analysis of 37 specimens, encompassing four distinct size classes of animal, shows that the frill (in both length and width) undergoes positive allometry during ontogeny, while the jugals also show a trend towards an increase in relative size. In conjunction with other data, this provides support that these features were under selection as socio-sexual dominance signals.
David W. E. Hone. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS. d.hone@qmul.ac.uk
Dylan Wood. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS. d.wood@se12.qmul.ac.uk
Robert J. Knell. School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS. r.knell@qmul.ac.uk
Keywords: Ceratopsian; sexual selection; behavior; gregariousness
Final citation: Hone, David W. E., Wood, Dylan, and Knell, Robert J. 2016. Positive allometry for exaggerated structures in the ceratopsian dinosaur Protoceratops andrewsi supports socio-sexual signaling. Palaeontologia Electronica 19.1.5A: 1-13
palaeo-electronica.org/content/2016/1369-sexual-selection-in-ceratopsia
